American Society for Microbiology's Biodefense Research Meeting, Feb. 15-18, 2006
American Society for Microbiology's 2006 Biodefense Research Meeting
About 900 scientists attended the 2006 Biodefense Research Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Feb. 15-18 in Washington, D.C.
Although most in attendance were scientists, many were defense officials and policymakers with science backgrounds, according to Arturo Casadevall, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of microbiology and immunology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and a member of the program committee.
Amid an ongoing need for research against traditional bioterrorism agents such as anthrax, and emerging infectious diseases including H5N1 influenza, the meeting's purpose was to identify state-of-the-art biomedical research that can be adapted to biodefense needs, according to the American Society for Microbiology.
"Five years after 9/11, the biodefense community has really taken off and is doing very nice work," said Casadevall. "There was a lot of new material presented."
The meeting opened with a keynote address by Anthony Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on avian influenza and the government's response to a potential pandemic, Casadevall said. One highlight of the meeting was a presentation by U.S. National Institutes of Health researchers on test results of an ebola virus vaccine. "They've given it to 20 people," said Casadevall. "It's very encouraging."
More "beautiful work" was presented on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), according to Casadevall. "They have made great progress in understanding at the molecular level how the organism gets into cells," he said.
While one study suggested that dormant anthrax spores can survive water disinfection and potentially infiltrate tap water, another showed that adding plain white vinegar to ordinary household bleach can kill anthrax spores, a cleanser researchers noted was available to any household in America.
Vinegar Ramps Up Antibacterial Power of Bleach
FRIDAY, Feb. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Acidified laundry bleach diluted with white vinegar is an effective sterilizing agent in case of an anthrax emergency, according to research presented this week during the American Society for Microbiology 2006 Biodefense Research Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Abstract (56- 221H)
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Experimental Drug Could Treat Latent and Resistant TB
FRIDAY, Feb. 17 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental drug may be effective for treating multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and the latent stage of the disease, researchers reported at the American Society for Microbiology 2006 Biodefense Research Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Abstract (33-189D)
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Recombinant Vaccine May Be Alternative in Flu Pandemic
THURSDAY, Feb. 16 (HealthDay News) -- A recombinant hemagglutinin protein-based vaccine could be an alternative to traditional egg-based vaccines in the fight against a possible flu pandemic, according to research presented at the American Society for Microbiology 2006 Biodefense Research Meeting in Washington, D.C.
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